Emi and Alex arrived at the hut, which looked even more run-down up close. The windows were shattered, the door hung loosely on its hinges, and the roof seemed moments away from collapsing.
—“Someone actually lives here?” Alex asked, eyeing the structure with skepticism.
—“I don't know, but whoever it is, they’re definitely not normal,” Emi replied, crossing her arms as she inspected the place.
She carefully pushed the door open, and it creaked loudly, echoing in the silence of the street. Inside, the room was filled with dust, cobwebs, and broken furniture. There were no signs of life.
—“Is this some kind of joke?” Emi asked, glancing around. “There’s nothing here.”
Alex crouched down, examining the floor. There were fresh drag marks leading toward a corner of the room.
—“Someone’s definitely been here. But not recently,” he commented.
Frustrated, Emi extended her hand. A small golden orb of light formed in her palm, casting a warm glow throughout the room.
—“Let’s see if this magic can do more than just light up the place,” she muttered.
The light intensified as the orb floated toward the ground. Suddenly, it revealed a faint glow outlining a hidden trapdoor.
—“Aha! I knew something was off. Look at that, Alex.”
Alex stepped closer and saw that the floor seemed to conceal an underground entrance.
—“You think we should…?”
—“Of course we should,” Emi said, already kneeling to lift the trapdoor.
—“What if it’s a trap?” Alex asked, eyeing the opening warily.
—“If it is, we still have to find out. Besides, isn’t this exciting?” Emi smiled at him, the kind of smile that told Alex he didn’t really have a choice.
Resigned, Alex sighed and followed Emi as they descended the stone staircase into the underground.
The cave they entered was spacious, lit by torches along the walls. The air was damp and smelled of mold, but what truly caught their attention was the decor: strange symbols were carved into the walls, and at the far end, an altar emitted a faint red glow.
—“This doesn’t look normal…” Alex muttered.
—“Definitely a cult site. Look at those symbols,” Emi said, pointing to the markings. “Probably the same group the guild mentioned.”
Suddenly, they heard footsteps approaching. Emi quickly extinguished her light, and the two hid behind some nearby rocks.
A group of men and women in black robes entered the cave. Their faces were covered by simple masks, and they were escorting several gagged and chained people.
—“Those are the kidnapped villagers,” Emi whispered, clenching her fists.
—“Great... so what’s the plan?” Alex asked in a hushed tone, knowing Emi already had something reckless in mind.
—“Easy. We stop them.”
—“Of course we do…”
Before Alex could object, Emi had already begun charging her light magic. A brilliant flash lit up the cave, momentarily blinding the cultists.
—“Release those people right now!” Emi shouted, stepping forward with determination.
Reluctantly, Alex activated his ability to strengthen Emi. He focused on enhancing her speed and reflexes.
—“As always, you drag me into your messes…” he muttered, following her lead—ready to support her from the shadows.
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